A HEALTH watchdog has voiced its concerns over plans to close nearly a third of hospital beds for people suffering from severe mental illness in Hampshire.

The health overview and scrutiny committee (HOSC) of the county council called on Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust to provide evidence that reducing the number of beds would improve patient care.

In a letter to trust bosses, chairman Councillor Pat West said that their main concern was patient care, adding: “Reducing bed numbers and achieving savings must not be an end in itself.”

If the scheme goes ahead it would see the loss of 48 of 165 acute beds in Hampshire, with more patients treated at home.

Trust bosses aim to save £4.5m over the next three years, £1.5m of which would be ploughed into strengthening “hospital at home” treatment.

The HOSC comments come after a devastating criticism of the trust’s plans by New Forest East MP Dr Julian Lewis in the House of Commons earlier this month.

The Conservative MP is fighting to save 24 mental health beds at “virtually brand new” Woodhaven in Calmore, threatened with closure along with The Meadows in Sarisbury Green. Melbury Lodge in Winchester would remain open under the proposals.

Mr Lewis said that on a typical day in October just over half of the existing 165 beds were needed for people detained under the Mental Health Act and that proportion would rise if there were fewer beds in future.

HOSC has asked bosses at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust to provide more information, including current bed occupancy rates and length of stay.

Councillors, who last July supported the general direction of the policy, will consider the information at their meeting next Tuesday.